Jan 22, 2026
3 min read
PHOENIX - When Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia dismissed Bleacher Report's prediction about the Suns' record, it wasn't just one owner defending his team. This is a sign the Phoenix Suns want to understand.
Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia gives Bleacher Report's offseason predictions
Phoenix - When Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia rejected Bleacher Report's prediction of the Suns record, he wasn't just defending his team.
29 October 2025;Phoenix, Arizona, United States;Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia faces the Memphis Grizzlies at the Pawn Match Center.Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Suns owner Mat Ishbia commented on Bleacher Report's prediction:
Bleacher Report projects the Suns to finish 26-56, a record considered worse than experience.Phoenix has already put an end to this prediction.At 27-17, the Suns surpassed their midseason win total, turning the painful forecast into background noise.
February 27, 2025;Phoenix, Arizona, USA;Phoenix owner Ishbia watches a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second quarter at the Footprint Center.Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
National projections often focus on injuries, star power and overall chemistry.Ishbia's rebuttal highlighted something more difficult to quantify, namely organizational intent.Since his acquisition, Ishbia has emphasized alignment from ownership to lockers, banking on continuity and clarity on Trump speculation.Ishbia expressed similar concerns to pundits who also doubted the Phoenix Mercury before the WNBA finals show.
December 19, 2024;Phoenix, Arizona, USA;Phoenix owner Ishbia sits courtside against the Indiana Pacers at the Footprint Center.Mandatory credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Phoenix's winning pace puts them comfortably in the playoff mix, but more importantly, their close games and resilience point to roster construction, not luck.The depth of veterans, defined roles and flexibility of the lineup have produced results that preseason models failed to produce.For Suns fans, Ishbia's comments mean emotion.The Sun team has lived through seasons in which ambition lagged behind expectations.Alone, it supports the belief that success has meaning when everyone shares it.
